Top U.S. general offers post-2014 Afghan plans

NEW YORK TIMES |
January 2, 2013
| Updated: January 3, 2013 12:15am

FILE - This July 22, 2012, file photo shows U.S. Gen. John Allen, top commander of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Forces (ISAF) and U.S. forces in Afghanistan, during an interview with The Associated Press in Kabul, Afghanistan. The Pentagon says Gen. John Allen is under investigation for alleged "inappropriate communications" with Jill Kelley, the woman who is said to have received threatening emails from Paula Broadwell, the woman with whom former CIA Director David Petraeus had an extramarital affair. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta says the FBI referred the matter to the Pentagon on Sunday, Nov. 11, 2012. Panetta says he ordered a Pentagon investigation of Allen on Monday. (AP Photo/Musadeq Sadeq, File)

WASHINGTON - Gen. John Allen, the senior U.S. commander in Afghanistan, has submitted options to the Pentagon that would keep 6,000 to 20,000 U.S. troops in Afghanistan after 2014, defense officials said Wednesday.

Allen offered Defense Secretary Leon Panetta three plans with different troop levels: 6,000, 10,000 and 20,000, each with a risk factor probably attached to it, a senior military official said.

An option of 6,000 troops would likely pose a higher risk of failure for the U.S. effort in Afghanistan; 10,000 would be medium risk; and 20,000 would be lower risk, said the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the options.

Levels of involvement

But the official, said that a more important factor in the success of any post-2014 U.S. mission is how much - or whether - an Afghan government known for corruption can deliver basic services to the population.

Allen's options offer ascending levels of U.S. involvement in guarding against the expansion of terrorist groups in Afghani­stan and advising an Afghan military that has limited airpower, logistics, leadership and ability to evacuate and treat its wounded.

With 6,000 troops, defense officials said, the U.S. mission would largely be a counter­terrorism fight of Special Operations commandos who would hunt insurgents. There would be limited logistical support and training for Afghan forces.

With 10,000 troops, the U.S. would expand training of Afghan forces.

With 20,000 troops, the Obama administration would add some conventional Army forces to patrol in limited areas.

Defense officials said it was unclear whether President Barack Obama had studied the options, although they said he was expected to discuss them at the White House next week when President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan visits. About 66,000 U.S. troops are still in Afghanistan.

Under an agreement between NATO and the Afghan government, the NATO combat mission in Afghanistan is to end Dec. 31, 2014, when the Afghan army and police are to have full responsibility for the country's security. But in recent months the Obama administration has been debating the size and mission of a residual U.S. force that would remain after 2014 to increase Afghan stability.

Afghans unprepared

The help is sorely needed, according to the most recent Pentagon report on the 11-year-old war. In an assessment released last month that covers April through September 2012, the Pentagon found that only one of the Afghan Army's 23 brigades was able to operate independently without air or other military support from the United States or its NATO partners.

Defense officials said that Allen's recommendations did not include options for the pace of withdrawals of the remaining 66,000 troops, although U.S. officials say he wants to keep a large majority - perhaps as many as 60,000 - through the fighting season next fall.

Military officials expect the White House to push for a faster withdrawal.

Allen's recommendations come as he and Panetta are soon due to leave their jobs. Allen is to be replaced in February by Gen. Joseph Dunford, and Panetta is expected to step down after Obama nominates a successor.

Allen, under investigation for emails he exchanged with Tampa, Fla., socialite Jill Kelley, is to become NATO supreme allied commander.